Heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet and method of forming image

Abstract

A heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet having, on a support, at least one receptor layer containing at least one kind of latex polymer having repeating units of vinyl chloride component and at least one kind of microcrystalline wax dispersion, wherein the melting temperature of a base wax of the microcrystalline wax dispersion is higher than a glass transition temperature of the latex polymer by at least 15° C.; and a method of forming an image using the same.

1. A heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet comprising, on a support, at least one receptor layer containing at least one kind of latex polymer having repeating units of vinyl chloride component and at least one kind of microcrystalline wax dispersion, wherein the melting temperature of a base wax of the microcrystalline wax dispersion is higher than the glass transition temperature of the latex polymer by at least 15° C. 
     
     
       2. The heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the melting temperature of the base wax of the microcrystalline wax dispersion is 85° C. or more but lower than 100° C. 
     
     
       3. The heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the melting temperature of the base wax of the microcrystalline wax dispersion is higher than the glass transition temperature of the latex polymer by at least 17° C. 
     
     
       4. The heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet as claimed in  claim 1 , which further contains a water-soluble polymer in addition to the latex polymer. 
     
     
       5. The heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet as claimed in  claim 4 , which further contains a compound capable of cross-linking molecules of the water-soluble polymer and thereby at least a part of the water-soluble polymer molecules are cross-linked. 
     
     
       6. The heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet as claimed in  claim 1 , which further has at least one heat insulation layer, wherein the heat insulation layer has a void structure or contains hollow polymer particles. 
     
     
       7. The heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the heat insulation layer contains hollow polymer particles. 
     
     
       8. A method of forming an image, which uses the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet as claimed in  claim 1  and a heat-sensitive transfer sheet having a dye on a support, wherein the method comprises the steps of bringing these sheets into face-to-face contact with each other and applying heat thereto, to form a heat-transferred dye image.